What Did You Buy Today?

[pavyan]

Of course, I went and bought a brand new Dremel set to replace it. low and behold, last week the variable speed switch on my less than 1 year old Dremel tool became a one speed (wide open). didn't even get a year out of the POS.

Although it is not known what broke in your DREMEL, there is a known problem with the mains switch, because is coupled with the speed controller.

This is probably the biggest disadvantage of DREMEL - which I consider an irreplaceable tool, I use very often.

For example, the speed controller in my original old model 395 (full plastic housing, without a rubber) - which I have considered ideal in terms of ergonomics for years and this is the only model I buy - is a ceramic variable resistor; its slider was made of phosphor bronze and due to the need to constantly move it (because on/off) the slider gets worn out after some time and falls off.

To counteract this, I put an additional mains switch in my last DREMEL 395 (strictly speaking, it is a Chinese fake - but surprisingly good quality).
It is a miniature "rocker" type switch, probably the smallest model available in the market (externally 15x11mm).

There is very little space in the grinder housing and it was not easy, but with a lot of "gymnastics", I managed to fit it.



Thanks to this solution I do not constantly move the speed regulator - and it does not wear out so quickly.


I'll brag by the way : thirty years ago I made a pre-Dremel-like grinding tool by my design (PA6 alloy housing (=2017), 80W/12VDC motor with claw clutch, 0 to ~20,000 rpm, with a DIY miniature steel three-jaw chuck for 0,4-4mm, and 6-set of spring collets 0,4-4mm).
This grinder-drill is straight indestructible, and the only drawback is the need to use a high-current DC power supply, not a 230VAC network.

 

[ChazzC]

Took me 13 months to get a cardiac stress test in Olympia, WA. Dentist, also in Olympia, is usually within 8 work days, and will squeeze in a "need to be seen now."

Continuing the OT discussion:

Aspen Dental (one of the few in my area that accepts the insurance I can afford) is usually pretty responsive, and when needed I've been able to get next day or even same day appointments.

We are fortunate to have Penn State Hershey Medical 10 minutes away. The most I have had to wait to see a doctor is two days (I was seen wishing 10 minutes of arrival at the ER with my shoulder). First Orthopedic visit was 9 days after the ER, CT was 2 weeks later. My Pre-OP visa was scheduled for this week so it would be close to the surgery, which was originally scheduled for December 11th (now moved up to the 5th). The Post-OP visits are at the recommended times, and have already been scheduled. The wait time for the surgery is a combination of others in line ahead of me and the surgeon's lists with other patients & his other duties which include teaching (one of the disadvantages of using a large teaching hospital, but the advantage is that when you are really sick you many times see the heads of departments, often among the top ten individuals in the country.

Ask our neighbors to the North and across the Atlantic and you will find that their free/low cost health care comes at the price of long waits.

 

[ChazzC]

Although it is not known what broke in your DREMEL, there is a known problem with the mains switch, because is coupled with the speed controller.

This is probably the biggest disadvantage of DREMEL - which I consider an irreplaceable tool, I use very often.

For example, the speed controller in my original old model 395 (full plastic housing, without a rubber) - which I have considered ideal in terms of ergonomics for years and this is the only model I buy - is a ceramic variable resistor; its slider was made of phosphor bronze and due to the need to constantly move it (because on/off) the slider gets worn out after some time and falls off.

To counteract this, I put an additional mains switch in my last DREMEL 395 (strictly speaking, it is a Chinese fake - but surprisingly good quality).
It is a miniature "rocker" type switch, probably the smallest model available in the market (externally 15x11mm).

There is very little space in the grinder housing and it was not easy, but with a lot of "gymnastics", I managed to fit it.

View attachment 510750

Thanks to this solution I do not constantly move the speed regulator - and it does not wear out so quickly.


I'll brag by the way : thirty years ago I made a pre-Dremel-like grinding tool by my design (PA6 alloy housing (=2017), 80W/12VDC motor with claw clutch, 0 to ~20,000 rpm, with a DIY miniature steel three-jaw chuck for 0,4-4mm, and 6-set of spring collets 0,4-4mm).
This grinder-drill is straight indestructible, and the only drawback is the need to use a high-current DC power supply, not a 230VAC network.

View attachment 510752

My original Dremel (280, vintage late 60's) only has two speeds, On & Off:


(also have an older 280, probably 1950's:


I have a sewing machine foot treadle speed control to adjust the speed on these and other small Universal Motor driven tools.


My Proxxon IBS/A is battery powered, but is identical to the AC-powered version, and has solid state speed control. While it has a single control for power & speed, the switch is on the back of the potentiometer and the current is low so I'm not concerned about it's life (most likely will outlive me at this point).

 

[pavyan]

Proxxon has the advantage of using a regular rotary potentiometer with a switch - it's probably a typical element, and easy to buy.

As for your DREMELs 280... they're an old, real, "native" American production

I still have a DREMEL 395 (big set in a suitcase) from about 25 years ago, when such toys were a dream in Poland.

I got my hands on some advertising publications from Dillon Precision - on the last page there were ads for various tools, and there I saw DREMEL... I went crazy right away and it had to be mine!
It was bought and sent to me by a friend, a Pole living in the US - but my copy already has the inscription Made in Mexico, despite that it's of very good quality.

I power it with an autotransformer 230V->120V, it's still alive and well.
Its flexible shaft has a simple, cylindrical aluminum handle with a diameter of only 1/2" - and for this reason, it has come in very handy on several occasions.
I have a set exactly as in the picture (taken from the net):